Elderly woman sexually assaulted in her North Vancouver home

Police don't know if incident in lower Ridgeway area was targeted or random

A woman in her mid-80s was taken to hospital after a man broke into her North Vancouver home and sexually assaulted her early Sunday morning.

North Vancouver RCMP Cpl. Richard De Jong said the woman, who lives alone in the lower Ridgeway area, is receiving support from her family members and from the police's victim services division.

De Jong said many of the details surrounding the incident remain unclear, but the detachment is taking the investigation very seriously.

"This is an extremely unusual and highly concerning incident," he said.

De Jong said police don't know at this time how the assailant got into the home, or whether the sexual assault was targeted or random.

In the meantime, police are asking residents to keep their homes secure.

"Considering the warm weather that's upon us the police are just…wanting citizens to lock their windows, secure their doors and make sure their home is secure in the event that someone may just have a crime of opportunity in mind," said De Jong.